Harlem (1943)
This propaganda film was partly inspired by the story of the first Italian heavyweight champion Primo Carnera who, after winning the title with Al Capone’s help in 1933, was beaten the following year by the Jewish Max Bear and then again by the ‘Brown Bomber’ Detroit Joe Lewis in June 1935, on the eve of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. This match provoked numerous racial skirmishes on the streets of Harlem between the Black community and pro-Fascist Italian-Americans. The film overturns historical facts and here, obviously, it is the white boxer who wins in order to demonstrate the superiority of the “Aryan Italians” over the “sinister Jewish entrepreneurs” and the “savage Afro-American fans in Yankee Stadium”. In the film, these were played by South African prisoners-of-war interred in a work camp, which the German and Italian propaganda ministries had set up near Cinecittà “for cinematic purposes”.
Cast
- Massimo Girotti - Tommaso Rossi
- Amedeo Nazzari - Amedeo Rossi
- Vivi Gioi - Muriel
- Elisa Cegani - Gangster woman
- Osvaldo Valenti - Chris Sherman
- Erminio Spalla - Franckie Battaglia, the coach
Screenplay
- Giuseppe Achille
- Pietro Petroselli (Screenplay)
- Guido Angeli (Screenplay)
- Emilio Cecchi (Screenplay)
- Sergio Amidei (Screenplay)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Harlem about?
- This propaganda film was partly inspired by the story of the first Italian heavyweight champion Primo Carnera who, after winning the title with Al Capone’s help in 1933, was beaten the following year by the Jewish Max Bear and then again by the ‘Brown Bomber’ Detroit Joe Lewis in June 1935, on the eve of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. This match provoked numerous racial skirmishes on the streets of Harlem between the Black community and pro-Fascist Italian-Americans. The film overturns historical facts and here, obviously, it is the white boxer who wins in order to demonstrate the superiority of the “Aryan Italians” over the “sinister Jewish entrepreneurs” and the “savage Afro-American fans in Yankee Stadium”. In the film, these were played by South African prisoners-of-war interred in a work camp, which the German and Italian propaganda ministries had set up near Cinecittà “for cinematic purposes”.
- Who directed Harlem?
- Harlem was directed by Carmine Gallone.
- Who stars in Harlem?
- Harlem stars Massimo Girotti, Amedeo Nazzari, Vivi Gioi, Elisa Cegani, Osvaldo Valenti, Erminio Spalla.
- How long is Harlem?
- Harlem has a runtime of 1h 53m (113 minutes).
- What genre is Harlem?
- Harlem is a Drama film.
- Where was Harlem produced?
- Harlem was produced in Italy.